O-line issues keep pressure on Brees

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; They’re off to their first 3-0 start since winning Super Bowl XLIV, but the New Orleans Saints are turning their attention to an issue on offense that, if left unresolved, could prevent them from fighting for a second title or ...

They’re off to their first 3-0 start since winning Super Bowl XLIV, but the New Orleans Saints are turning their attention to an issue on offense that, if left unresolved, could prevent them from fighting for a second title or might get their $100 million quarterback hurt.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees has already been sacked 10 times this year, a pace that translates to more than 53 sacks and 346 yards lost over a 16-game season.

Between 2006 — when coach Sean Payton took charge in New Orleans — and 2012, the Saints were consistently among the least-sacked teams in the NFL, surrendering a regular-season average of 21.1 sacks, or less than two a game, for 143 yards lost.

They’re headed toward giving up much more than that this year, though, after Brees was sacked twice in a 23-17 win over Atlanta (1-2), four times in a 16-14 win over Tampa Bay (0-3) and four more in Sunday’s 31-7 win over Arizona (1-2).

Center Brian de la Puente on Monday admitted that the amount of sacks on Brees so far is “unacceptable.”

“We take full responsibility for it, because we need to do a better job in giving him time,” de la Puente said. “We know when he has time, he’s very dangerous, so that’s our job to do a better part of it.”

Payton on Monday said part of the problem involves the fact that the Saints have seen more man-to-man coverage from defenses than usual, which can cause quarterbacks to hold onto the ball “a half-count longer” and may result in more sacks.

“It’s more challenging to find your interceptions on the defensive side, but it aids in getting quarterback sacks and hurries,” Payton said.